Topic description and stories

Stories from the people that make Cambridge University unique.

Kirstie Stage in the gardens at Christ's College

The graduate student rewriting Deaf histories and disability histories

05 January 2024

When Kirstie Stage was diagnosed with hearing loss, she realised that the experiences of Deaf and disabled people were missing from the history books. Kirstie is determined to bring these narratives to the fore.

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Harriet Loffler in front of painting

The curator reframing our experiences of art

17 May 2024

“Art doesn’t need to be in an elaborate frame on the wall of a gallery,” says Harriet Loffler, curator of The Women’s Art Collection at Murray...

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Professor Hiranya Peiris with the Northumberland Telescope at the Institute of Astronomy.

The cosmologist solving questions at the boundary of our understanding

13 Nov 2023

Hiranya Peiris is Cambridge’s new Professor of Astrophysics (1909). She discusses being inspired by Stephen Hawking, the unknown space before you...

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Nabil Ali in the Botanic Garden

The artist who made ink from Newton's Apple Tree

16 Oct 2023

Nabil Ali is discovering the natural colours hidden within the berries, blooms and bark found in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden – including...

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The medical student tackling the taboo around periods

03 Jul 2023

Fifth-year medical student, Ashna Biju, is not afraid to talk about the topics that other people would rather avoid. She’s passionate about public...

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The Crimean Tatar who wants freedom for Ukraine to sing again

18 May 2023

Displaced journalist and scholar Elmaz Asan arrived in Cambridge from Ukraine in October 2022. She sees her research as a chance to fight back...

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Mathelinda Nabugodi

The poetry scholar, the Black Atlantic and the Trembling Hand

13 Mar 2023

Mathelinda Nabugodi investigates the impact of colonialism and the slave trade on Romantic poets. Her research has taken her into the archives with...

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Mary Beard

The Classicist who wants the ancient world to have a radical future

22 Feb 2023

Mary Beard says the Greeks and Romans have more to say about modern society than we might think. A new set of films, aimed at teenagers whose schools...

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Dara McAnulty

The naturalist with autism named on the 2023 New Year Honours

30 Jan 2023

Dara McAnulty is an award-winning author and environmental campaigner. In December 2022 he was awarded a BEM for services to nature and the autistic...

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The therapist encouraging students to reach out

07 Nov 2022

Christopher Haylock, Head of the University Counselling Service (UCS), is transforming the service to ensure it provides the best possible support to...

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The “zero-chance” doctor who now advises government

19 Oct 2022

Growing up on free school meals at one of the lowest performing state schools in the country, Raghib Ali went on to become a leading epidemiologist...

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The PhD student encouraging young Black aspiring scientists to claim their place

30 Aug 2022

When PhD student Sigourney Bell turned to Twitter to connect with other Black scientists, she could never have guessed that this would be the...

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The doctor turned detective investigating the imprints of cancer

15 Aug 2022

Self-confessed ‘nerd’ Serena Nik-Zainal went from hospital wards to the laboratory on a mission to provide patients with the best possible treatment...

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